It was built in the 13th century, and underwent extensive renovation by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1878.

There are two lakes: a small one overlooked by the island church, and a much larger one approximately 150 metres away through a wooded area to the east, which has a stone-built boathouse.

In 1932 a pair of black-necked grebes bred at the lake, the only occasion on which this species has been recorded breeding in Somerset.

The lake regularly hosts small numbers of common waterfowl, including breeding little and great crested grebes and mute swan, and wintering tufted duck and pochard.

Rarer species have occasionally been sighted: Media related to Orchardleigh Lake at Wikimedia Commons